Patch Q&A With Assembly Candidates: Taxes

Editor's Note: Each day through June 5, we will publish a Q&A with the candidates vying to represent voters in the 50th Assembly District. Each candidate was asked to respond in 300 words or less. Their unedited answers are published below their photos above this article.

For its first question, Patch asked:

Which of the tax measures on the November ballot do you support? If you want to increase taxes on the rich, what do you say to those who say who contend such hikes discourage entrepreneurship, investment and growth? If you do not support higher taxes or extensions, why not, and what alternative budget balancer do you support instead?

The are Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom, 53rd Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, political organizer Torie Osborn and attorney Brad Torgan. Scroll through the photos above for their answers.

Gov. Jerry Brown is endorsing a measure that would increase the sales tax by ¼ cent and bump by 2 percent taxes on residents earning incomes of more than $600,000 and by 3 percent on incomes of $1 million. Pasadena-based attorney Molly Munger's initiative calls for raising income taxes on all but the poorest residents to raise money that would mostly be earmarked for schools.

Torgan is the lone Republican in the race and was the only candidate to say he will not for either of the tax measures, and Bloom said he is undecided. 

Portions of the Santa Monica Mountains, Agoura Hills, Topanga, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Bel Air, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Carthay Square, West Hollywood, much of Hollywood, Hancock Park and Miracle Mile make up the new 50th district.

The top two vote-getters in the June 5 primary election will advance to the Nov. 6 general election regardless of party preference or whether one candidate receives a majority of votes in the primary.

Patch Q&A series with Assembly candidates:

• Q&A With Assembly Candidates: Jobs